PURE: The new GCU
Current Research
Information System (CRIS)
Professor John Marshall
Director
Academic Research Development
page 1
ENHANCING THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
AT GCU: CONTEXT
University Research Committee
UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2014)
Current Research Information System (CRIS)
Research Online@GCU – our digital publication research repository
Improving research quality –peer review and mentoring
Caledonian Research Excellence Development Opportunities
(CREDO - researcher staff development)
Understanding and capturing research impact arising from research
excellence (REF)
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WHAT WILL WE USE A CRIS FOR ?
The focus is on integrating academic research
information in one place.
The same system will be used by Schools and the
University, providing access to a consistent agreed data
set facilitating a better understanding of GCU research
activity based on up to date information
A consistent format for information capture and
reporting will allow the University to prepare and model
its submission for REF2014 and interface easily with the
new REF IT system
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page
CRIS and REF
There is a critical and ongoing requirement to
identify emerging areas of research excellence (3*
and 4* levels) as the funding consequent on
REF2014 will depend on it (quality is key)
It is likely that there will be more joint submissions
to REF2014 in Scotland – we must be able to share
information with other institutional partners where it
is in our interest to do so.
Ensuring that reports to SFC, HESA, RCUK etc
reflect current research activity and its impact
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PURE Current Research Information System
Supplier: Atira (Denmark)
PURE evolved out of HE in Denmark –
Atira staff understand research needs
(see: http://atira.dk/en/pure/)
It provides a single research system interface to
researchers who can input their academic information
directly and use it as an integrated resource
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Key features of PURE Software for research
PURE can fully address CRIS technical and IT legacy
issues relating to UK HEI research activity
It can automatically bring together relevant
supporting data from other GCU IT systems in a
way that is useful to researchers (and already
implemented at other HEIs –reduced risk)
It is scaleable and can cope easily with our present
and longer term research volume
It has a REF module for automatic submission to
REF2014
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INTEGRATED RESEARCH INFORMATION
Research
Projects
(inc bids and
Reports)
Peer
review
Research
Publications
Esteem
Research
active academic
activity focused
on individual
at centre
Collaborations
Research
Impact
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School
Research
Group/
UoA
Staff
employment
history
Research
Students/
studentships
Research
Assistants
Research
Income and
spend
PURE: GCU research data systems integration:
HR
Oracle
(staff)
RIE
Database
(bids)
Finance
Oracle
(projects)
PURE:
CURRENT
RESEARCH
INFORMATION
SYSTEM
Research online@GCU
research publication
repository
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Graduate
School
Database
(research
students)
Academic
Activity
(esteem,
impact)
PURE CRIS REPORT GENERATION
Comprehensive reports on research activity
(including c.v’s) can be prepared for:
Individuals
Research
groups
REF UoAs
University
research
committee
PURE
CRIS
REPORTS
Institutes
Schools
What if? Scenario modelling will be possible
Associating groups of individuals
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REF2014: PREPARATIONS USING PURE
GCU 2014 REF submission
REF2014 software
PURE REF MODULE
UoA submissions
developed in PURE
HR
page 10
FNO
RIE
Grad
School
Repo
sitory
PURE: GCU Project Implementation plan: June 2011
Scope “views” of existing IT resources to allow developer
to frame project detail to implement University CRIS
specification
Create project team led by ARD with key representative
academic research stakeholders (and professional support
group staff as appropriate to modules)
Regular communication with Schools and other academic
groups on progress/input/feedback and training.
Implementation in Summer/Autumn 2011
Use to prepare for REF2014.
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PURE system slide views
Further details can be found at the following links:
PURE:
http://www.atira.dk/en/pure/
PURE video:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/research/pure/help/
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Any questions?
Exercise:
What features/reports would you like to see in PURE?
Discuss in groups and come up with ways in which
better access to information in PURE could help you
in the development of your research activity
Discuss for 20 minutes and report back
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